The innovative housing approach in Railway City is progressing well and is on the right path to tackle its homelessness crisis – reaching a significant milestone.
St. Thomas and Elgin County shared news on Wednesday that during the first half of 2026, more individuals without homes transitioned into housing than those who became homeless.
From January 1 to June 30, 79 people found housing, compared to 69 individuals who lost their homes. This statistic gives hope that the community can achieve its aim of ending functional homelessness by 2027.
This means there will be sufficient housing and support available so it becomes rare for anyone to experience homelessness, and if they do, it won’t last long.
The city and county have also noted a 34 percent decrease in their By-Name List, which tracks local individuals facing homelessness. The current list has 86 names.
“I’m pleased with the progress we’re making but I’m not nearly as pleased as some of the people who now have a place to live,” said St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston.
“It’s well on track for what we’ve been boasting about for the past year – that we will reach zero sometime in 2027.”
The community south of London has become an encouraging model for many Canadian cities dealing with their own homelessness challenges due to limited housing options and the ongoing opioid crisis.
Preston, who isn’t seeking re-election this fall, has been approached by several municipalities and organizations looking for guidance on how they can replicate this success. He anticipates that at his final Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference this weekend, many community leaders will seek him out for advice.
“I’m certain I will have more than one mayor say to me, ‘Tell me where you’re at, how you’re there,’” he remarked.
“I keep shouting from my rooftop, ‘You can solve it.’ It requires solid planning and a detailed outline of what you want to achieve.”
But just like the trains that historically helped build St. Thomas, “many communities are making progress; it might feel slow initially but things pick up once you get started.”
Preston expressed his satisfaction with sharing strategies developed when city council prioritized housing eight years ago for a growing community welcoming new major employers.
A key aspect was addressing the homelessness issue through creating “a team effort” involving new housing opportunities alongside supportive social services, community groups, and private businesses.
This collaboration has led to several new projects. Some are managed by the city while others are driven by community efforts. Indwell, a Christian supportive housing organization active throughout the region, has played an essential role in creating housing units. Additionally, there’s an innovative development featuring 40 tiny homes downtown coordinated by YWCA, Doug Tarry Homes, and the city.
Preston highlighted that their plans were comprehensive with specific goals and priorities set along the way. The By-Name List aids social service workers in recognizing everyone listed personally along with understanding unique needs that may prevent them from securing stable housing. It also ensures no services overlap unnecessarily.
While they’ve increased available housing capacity significantly over time, last winter’s goal was to eliminate tent cities by ensuring enough emergency shelter space was accessible for those needing help.
The current objective is establishing sufficient permanent housing solutions. Preston mentioned that their tiny-home initiative is recently furnished with living spaces now available for 60 people.
A strategy is also being implemented to identify individuals at risk of losing their homes quickly so they can receive assistance either maintaining their residence or finding new ones promptly.
According to Preston Indwell’s latest project on Balaclava Street is nearing completion with 78 units ready soon.
The success of this housing strategy has had positive ripple effects across town. Talbot Street-the main street-has seen numerous new businesses open up recently. Preston pointed out storefronts are fuller than they’ve been in over four decades he’s lived here. New green spaces like a park near the main library behind city hall are also developing nicely.
The city alongside its police department expanded their number of special constables skilled at handling mental health issues specifically within core areas up to ten officers now ensuring heightened presence overall within those neighborhoods too.
Preston considers this approach towards tackling homelessness one among his proudest achievements as mayor especially given how temporary closures impacted shelters when he took office eight years back already impacting lives then adversely too!
No doubt there’ll always remain needs surrounding emergency shelters he added yet diligent work addressing these matters continues reducing issues down considerably thus far fostering greater stability within our local environment here together!
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“That can happen in any community too when you start working with all your community groups,” he remarked further emphasizing collaboration’s role continuously driving successes moving forward positively altogether combined!”
Additionally though Preston reiterated feeling blessed having worked alongside such productive cooperative councils sharing aligned visions entirely cooperating seamlessly promoting sustained outcomes even after departing position eventually leaving substantial impacts remaining firmly established beyond immediate tenure.”
“I’m going to be here helping or haunting,” he concluded jokingly light-heartedly amusing everyone present still contributing meaningfully moving onward ahead”
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